8

Connie returned to her quarters and ate dinner hurriedly without even changing out of her dress because she was so hungry.

In fact, by the time the second act was ending, she couldn’t concentrate on the performance because she had been starving all day.

She hadn’t planned to go to the performance from the beginning, nor had she intended to have dinner together, but Ethan insisted they go together and eat dinner together. Though she felt unpleasant toward Ethan for suddenly changing his mind as he pleased, she also thought it was better to eat alone like this than to dine with strangers.

Just recalling the conversations with her Steen University classmates in the opera house hall made her uncertain whether she could have enjoyed time with the classmates she would have met at dinner.

Thanks to that, she could also eliminate the dinner appointment with Ethan, preventing any unnecessary emotional possibilities from arising again.

She ate so hastily that only a few chunks of scrambled eggs remained on the plate in no time.

“Hmm, I think I might gain some weight.”

As she sat up straight with a full stomach, the events at the opera house came back to her mind.

Probably because there had been many strange encounters and uncomfortable moments.

First, Ethan was strange.

For someone who suddenly appeared and insisted on taking her to the performance, Ethan seemed like a person who had his mind elsewhere throughout the show.

He appeared unable to concentrate on either the person beside him or the performance itself.

Surprisingly, she enjoyed watching the performance itself, if nothing else.

She understood it was probably because Ethan happened to meet Hazel Gracious there, but still, she didn’t want to go to such places with Ethan again. Of course, that wouldn’t happen anyway.

Hazel Gracious and the Duke…….

Would they really work out well?

The Duke seemed interested, and Hazel was more aggressive, so they might work out, but what about William? If the Duke became lovers with Hazel, William’s relationship with Hazel would also be important…….

Well, it’s not my business. It’s not something I can interfere with either…….

In truth, while she was concerned about William, she wasn’t particularly interested in their relationship.

What bothered her was…….

“Haa! No. I shouldn’t think about it.”

She felt she needed to rest now.

After yesterday, today had been extremely tiring too.

Unlike yesterday, today her mood was also low.

This is all…….

No, I said I wouldn’t think about it!

Connie scraped together the egg chunks remaining on the plate with her fork as if trying to scrape away the unpleasant thoughts that kept surfacing.

“Oh, really!”

While putting the gathered egg pieces on her fork to eat, one fell onto her clothes.

“Ugh……”

It seemed she needed to wash it immediately to prevent oil stains. Still, it was the best outfit she owned, so to wear it well for a long time…….

⟨Isn’t your outfit too eye-catching?⟩

“Oh, come on!”

But as Connie picked up the egg chunk that had fallen on her clothes, she suddenly felt a surge of anger.

The Prince’s words that she had been suppressing and trying not to think about resurfaced.

“Who does he think he is!”

Complaints she couldn’t express to the Prince’s face burst out.

In fact, her low mood until now was precisely because of her encounter with the Prince.

The more she thought about it, the more memories surfaced, becoming more unpleasant and unsettling, so she had tried to bury it deep in her heart and forget it somehow…….

Was it because the oil stain on the green dress resembled the unpleasantness the Prince’s words had left on her heart?

Once they started coming out, the Prince’s words began to flow out one after another like a bursting dam.

⟨Does Miss Connie Clarence attend opera performances with just anyone if it’s free?⟩

What’s that supposed to mean!

Asking if I go with anyone if it’s free?

Why is he picking a fight about whether I do or don’t?

And what’s with ‘Miss Connie Clarence’?

Even though we didn’t meet at school and today we weren’t meeting as teacher and parent, still!

The fact that I’m his brother’s homeroom teacher hasn’t changed!

If I met the Prince in a foreign country, would it be okay to call him ‘Mr. Ryan Stanton’? Would he like that?

Even in a foreign country, if he’s still a prince, then outside of school, aren’t I still a teacher?

I always address him respectfully as ‘Your Highness’ and maintain proper etiquette toward the Prince!

If being a prince is a status, being a teacher is also a status.

If there are courtesies that must be observed for a prince, aren’t there also courtesies that should be observed for a teacher!

⟨You only say ‘yes’ in response…….⟩

Whether I say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ can’t I answer as I please?

Does he think he’s a prince straight out of a fairy tale?

I can’t even answer freely because you’re a prince!

⟨First time at the opera…… Well, I guess so.⟩

Well? I guess so?

Why add ‘I guess so’ there?

Did you set aside today specifically to make me feel bad?

Her conversation with the Prince had only lasted for a very brief time before people crowded around him, but it was amazing how he managed to utter so many unpleasant words in that short period.

“Sigh……”

Connie exhaled a long breath trying to calm herself down.

Thinking rationally, there was no need to feel offended.

Getting emotional over someone who had little to do with her would only hurt herself.

Today, she had simply thought the Prince looked good yesterday, thinking ‘he seems like a nice person,’ ‘what a handsome and warm prince,’ only to be disappointed when seeing a completely different side just a day later.

Well! Even the idea of having expectations was laughable.

What was there to expect from a prince anyway?

The Prince was just a prince, merely one of the parents.

“I should do the laundry.”

As if washing away thoughts of the Prince from her mind, Connie began washing the dress.

She needed to wash it quickly to prevent stains from setting in. After all, it was her best outfit, so to wear it well for a long time…….

⟨I meant to say you look pretty.⟩

But the moment she applied soap to the clothes, Duke Wayne’s words came to mind this time.

Tsk! But what feels bad still feels bad!

Other parents would at least compliment me out of courtesy.

Yet the Prince, who should be a role model for everyone, says things like ‘your outfit is too eye-catching.’

The intention to brush it off quickly disappeared in an instant, and she became angry again at the Prince’s rudeness, which contrasted with the Duke’s kind and considerate attitude.

Doesn’t a prince need to have consideration and respect for his citizens?

“Haa……!”

Connie, who had been vigorously scrubbing the stain on the green dress with soap as if the dress were the memory of the Prince, suddenly put down the clothes.

“Why am I acting like this?”

She couldn’t understand why her heart wouldn’t follow her will, even though it was clearly her own heart.

Pathetically…….

“Get a grip! The Prince is the Prince, and I am me.”

Connie shook her head to shake off thoughts of the Prince.

Fortunately, as a result of trying to focus only on the laundry, by the time she hung the dress on the drying rack, although her mood was still low, she could no longer think about the Prince.

And when she returned to her room, she discovered something that could completely shake off the remaining gloomy mood.

A letter from Leonie.

After receiving it from Ethan, she had forgotten about it while hurriedly preparing to go out.

Right!

Leonie was like a spiritual energizer.

Her mood was already improving the moment she opened the envelope.

⁕⁕⁕

[Miss Connie Clarence, hello.

This is Leonie.

You mentioned being busy in your last letter, and it seems that’s really the case.

Since I haven’t received a letter for a long time, I’m curious about how you’re doing, so I’m writing to you first.]

“My situation? Oh my……”

Connie read the sentence again.

It was true that she hadn’t sent a letter for a long time.

She had written about that before.

But for the author to send a letter first, not for any other reason, but simply because she was curious about her situation.

It was touching.

[Are you preparing well for the sports day? Since you said you couldn’t even write to me because of it, I wondered if I should be jealous of the sports day.]

“Oh my…… Author……”

Jealous of the sports day.

If the author had been a man, it would have felt exactly like reading a love letter.

“The sports day ended well.”

Connie responded aloud as if the author were actually in front of her, then lowered her gaze to the next line.

[I’m glad you received the book well. You say you can’t read it because it’s too precious? Please don’t do that and make sure to read my writing with the book I sent you. I might feel a bit hurt if you just keep it on your bookshelf.]

But it’s too precious….. Still, I’ll do as you say!

[And I’ve also thought about the parent who sent food and asked for a meal in return. Even based on my 25 years of life experience, I don’t think I can understand that parent’s behavior.]

25 years?

25?

Twenty…… five?

Connie was dumbfounded.

25 years of life experience.

What did that mean?

Did it literally mean 25 years?

If so, did that mean the author was twenty-five years old?

“Oh my……”

The shock of learning the author’s actual age was so great that she couldn’t even process the content sympathizing with her complaints about Count Brightling.

How…… could the author be only three years older than me?

For years, she believed the author was a middle-aged woman old enough to be her mother or father, and had written letters accordingly.

How foolish had she been all this time?

No, then why hadn’t the author said anything until now, saying that wasn’t the case, that she wasn’t that old?

“Ah, I see!”

The author had never directly mentioned her age.

She had just assumed it on her own.

Besides, the author had only recently started replying.

How bewildered must she have been all this time?

Putting herself in the author’s position, she felt embarrassment and confusion washing over her.

“But still……”

It was quite amusing.

At some point, a thought occurred to her, and as soon as she had that thought, her confusion instantly turned into delight.

It was the thought, ‘Actually, at this age, shouldn’t I call her sister?’

Connie started reading the letter again with a grin, feeling as if she had gained an older sister she never had.

[‘Tempi’ is a restaurant I know as well. I actually live in Barfal too. Asking for a meal and even specifying which restaurant to eat at seems even more rude.

I may not be that much older than you, Miss Connie Clarence, but as someone slightly senior, I would advise you to definitely keep your distance from such a parent. They seem very inconsiderate, rude, and completely lacking in consideration for others.]

Connie gulped.

Every phrase was correct, and she agreed with each sentence.

She was also glad that someone understood and sympathized with her discomfort.

But it felt a bit strange to hear such explicit criticism of someone from an author she had regarded as a mother or father figure until now.

Somehow, it made it more real that the author wasn’t of her parents’ generation but a young person around her age.

Still, everything she said was right.

“That’s right, Sis Leonie. I think we get along well.”

Feeling even more intimate, Connie muttered as if speaking directly to the author in the letter.

[And you say the father of a child who lost his mother invited you to his home? Hmm….. That’s certainly a difficult invitation to decline.

But on that issue, my thoughts are this: Isn’t a mother someone who is difficult for anyone to replace for a child?

While it’s right for you as a homeroom teacher to love that child sufficiently, I think you shouldn’t approach them with hasty kindness and empathy when you can’t fulfill the expectations of the child and father. Some people confuse sympathy and compassion with other emotions. So I hope that you will be more cautious about this matter as well.]

Sympathy and compassion?

But who am I sympathizing with?

My emotions might be hasty, but I’m only empathizing with William’s feelings.

However, she couldn’t completely ignore the author’s words.

The author had made an objective judgment from a third-party perspective, completely unrelated to herself or the father-son duo.

[It seems you’ve developed concerns about relationships with various people in your new workplace. Including your relationship with that parent who is a student’s older brother.

You mentioned that parent seemed to have something he didn’t like about you, unlike before?

Hmm…… I don’t think you’re someone who would easily make mistakes or hurt others’ feelings.

So perhaps that parent had some personal concerns that day. He suddenly had to go to school in place of his brother’s parents, and as a result, his complex feelings might have shown on his face?

I don’t think you need to worry too much about that issue, but since I don’t know what kind of person that parent is, it’s difficult for me to easily share my thoughts on this matter.

However, if he’s someone who loves his sister enough to go to his school in place of their parents, he probably isn’t a cold-hearted or negative person. Especially considering the significant age difference with his sister.

I’m curious about what happened with this parent afterward, whether there were any other special incidents, or if your impression of him has changed.

If you reply to me, could you tell me more about this parent? I’m somehow curious about him.

The things that happen between people often give me, as a writer, food for thought and become new material.

You said teachers also need guardians who can indulge them?

In my opinion, I think I would be suitable as that guardian.

After receiving your letters for several years, I’ve come to feel very close to you in my own way and am always curious about how you’re doing.

So please continue to indulge yourself with me without feeling sorry.

I’ll always be waiting for news from you with pleasure.

The new guardian of the cute and lovable Connie, Leonie.]

“……!”

Connie’s gaze fixed on the last line of the letter as she gulped.

‘New guardian of the cute and lovable Connie.’

Cute Connie. Lovable Connie.

Cute and lovable Connie…….

Gulp.

She swallowed again.

Why is this sister treating me like this?

Why is she suddenly being so…… sweet to me?

It’s making my heart flutter…….

Even though the age difference was small, the author’s gender hadn’t changed, yet strangely, her heart fluttered at the words ‘cute and lovable Connie.’

Perhaps it was because it felt like she had found someone who truly saw her as cute and thought of her as lovable, something she hadn’t had for a long time.

With a fluttering heart, Connie took out a new sheet of stationery and began writing a reply immediately.

She had originally planned to rest without doing anything, but she had so many things she wanted to tell the author that she couldn’t bear to wait to write back.

And with a sister just three years older, she felt she could more easily express her innermost thoughts.

⁕⁕⁕

On Monday, Connie, who had been waiting for Steen Elementary School’s temporary holiday, went to court.

She needed to file a petition for the nullification of her adoption.

After submitting the documents stating that she, as the concerned party at the time of adoption, had not consented, and that the purpose of the adoption was to extort her father’s inheritance money, Connie then visited Maison Company.

She needed to obtain documents as evidence that her father’s insurance money had been paid out.

Surprisingly, after confirming Connie’s name, the Maison employee prepared the documents with extreme courtesy, unlike last time.

It seemed that Mr. Maison had discovered the purpose of Connie’s previous visit and instructed the employee to cooperate.

Connie mentally thanked Mr. Maison. Afterward, she left Maison Company and went to the Central Bank to find documents proving that her uncle had received the deposits.

While she could immediately obtain documents showing that the receiving account belonged to her uncle, she had been told that finding the actual recipient would take longer, so she had applied in advance last week when she had time.

Claiming abuse based on her own memories and testimony had a high possibility of not being recognized as valid since it was the plaintiff’s own testimony. Still, these materials showing that money was the purpose of the adoption would serve as definite evidence.

It was just as she was leaving the bank after obtaining all the documents.

“Oh my! Aren’t you Teacher Natalie?”

Teacher?

Connie reflexively turned her head at the word ‘teacher.’

Sure enough, the person calling her was Mrs. Maison, Natalie’s mother, who seemed to have spotted her while coming out of the bank manager’s office.

“It’s Natalie’s mother. Hello, Madam!”

Last time she had stopped by Maison Company and met Natalie’s father, and today she was meeting Natalie’s mother at the Central Bank. She seemed to frequently encounter this couple in unexpected places.

Come to think of it, both places were related to ‘money.’

“Hello, Teacher. What a surprise to see you here. I suppose you came to the bank on business.”

“Yes, I had some documents to pick up.”

“Ah, I see. I just happened to stop by on my way because I have a large sum to newly deposit. Since I’m a major client of this bank, I always conduct my business only through the bank manager.”

“Ah…… I see. I was just about to leave. It was nice meeting you today……”

With nothing particular to talk about and feeling awkward, she was about to say goodbye and part ways.

“Teacher, it’s a school holiday today. Do you have any other plans afterward?”

But Natalie’s mother cut off her farewell and asked.

“No, not really……”

She had finished her schedule for today and was planning to rest in the afternoon.

“Then would you like to have tea with me? There’s a new café in front of the Central Bank with a really nice atmosphere. I’d like to treat you to a cup of tea.”

The words “Can’t we just consider it done?” almost rose to her throat.

She had already learned during the parent-teacher conference that Natalie’s mother was someone she didn’t get along with well, so unless there was a clear reason, she didn’t particularly want to have a personal meeting.

But she couldn’t think of an appropriate excuse to decline a parent who had first suggested having tea.

Today was a school holiday, and she had already said she had finished her business.

“If just for a moment is okay, then shall we?”

In the end, she had no choice but to accept.

⁕⁕⁕

“Teacher, is this place alright?”

The place Natalie’s mother took Connie to was indeed a “nice” café as she had described.

The café with its good atmosphere and clean interior reflected the current interior design trends, and thus had many customers.

“It is. The tea also seems to have a very rich and good aroma.”

The tea she ordered on Natalie’s mother’s recommendation tasted good. The desserts they ordered together also looked uniformly neat and delicious.

“I told you so. Do you know how much money was invested?”

“Pardon?”

“Actually, this café belongs to my younger brother. My brother is the owner of this café.”

“Ah……”

“This location is hard to come by. It’s in the absolute center of a prime location, and being on a corner, it can attract customers’ attention from both directions, resulting in high foot traffic. It’s not easy to secure such a large store this size in this street.”

“Ah……”

Connie was dumbfounded. Why was she telling her this?

Just as she had felt during the parent-teacher conference, this mother was someone who told you many things even without being asked.

“The customers never stop coming. Look even now. There’s hardly any empty seats, right? It’s absolutely impossible to sit at a window seat without a reservation.”

“Yes……”

Why on earth did she want to have tea with her?

To boast about this store owned by her brother?

“From what I heard from Natalie’s dad, you’re the daughter of a viscount family?”

“Ah! Yes. That’s true.”

Viscount family.

Her uncle is indeed a viscount. And legally, she was still his adopted daughter.

She didn’t want to flaunt it at all and didn’t want anyone to know about it, but when she submitted family relationship documents while getting various certificates issued at Maison Company, she had to submit that she was the daughter of the Clarence family, and that she had previously been the biological daughter of Mr. Pleasure.

She had thought the Maison employee’s kindness was due to Mr. Maison’s consideration, but sure enough, Mr. Maison must have verified her personal information in the process.

Being a couple, he might have shared what he learned about his child’s homeroom teacher with his wife.

The circumstances made sense.

But it wasn’t comfortable having the wife openly acknowledge knowing her personal information like this.

“And…… you’re also the biological daughter of Mr. Pleasure, a businessman who used to do business with my husband’s company.”

“Yes. That’s correct. But why are you……”

“Teacher, let me ask just one more thing.”

“Yes. What……”

“I have quite a good information network. In today’s world, money is information power. So I happened to hear this, but are you perhaps a Steen University graduate?”

“Pardon?”

It felt like the conversation was increasingly going off track.

Moreover, how did she know about a teacher’s alma mater?

She had never mentioned her educational background to parents or children.

“Did you graduate from Steen University? And there’s even a rumor that you were the top graduate. Is that really true?”

Why was she probing so persistently?

It was a bit unpleasant.

“Ah, yes. It’s true, but why are you curious about that?”

“Oh my!”

Suddenly, Natalie’s mother clapped her hands and broke into a broad smile.

Why this woman was so pleased that she had graduated from Steen University with top honors was completely incomprehensible.

“Why are you doing this, Madam?”

“I was right. Indeed, there’s no rumor without some basis.”

“Madam, so why are you asking about this?”

“Teacher, you know that my husband runs a large business, right?”

“Yes, of course. I just visited Maison Company today.”

“That’s right. Maison. An insurance company everyone knows by name. Actually, that’s not all we do. We also operate several restaurants. And this café too. Actually, my brother runs this café.”

“Yes, you already mentioned that.”

“We’re not nobility. But, well, you know Nathan in our class? Look at his family. They’re a viscount family, but all they have is their title with no assets. Penniless nobility. I believe they barely manage to pay tuition. Oh, that’s right! Teacher, do you know Markrock?”

“Markrock? What is… who is that?”

“Oh my, why wouldn’t you know? Well, I guess you might not know since you don’t need large sums of money. There’s a famous loan shark called Old Man Markrock. The accident where he lost his son a few years ago is also well-known. But someone saw Nathan’s family coming out of that old man’s house. My goodness. What business would a non-business family have with a loan shark? That shows how bad their financial situation is!”

“……”

She felt increasingly uncomfortable. Why did she have to listen to such talk from a parent? Why was she spreading gossip about other families’ financial situations?

It’s so rude and inconsiderate.

“Oh my! Look at me. I didn’t mean to talk about Nathan, I’m sorry. What I meant to say was that while our family may not be nobility, we’re certainly not lacking in wealth. And to tell you a bit more, my family of origin is quite well-off. Even my husband’s initial business capital came from my dowry. My husband only had his looks and abilities, nothing else. I do have a good eye for men.”

“Yes, Madam. It seems so. But actually, today I need to leave a bit early……”

“Teacher, about the sports day. That day, the owner of this café, my brother, went to the sports day.”

“Ah, yes.”

It finally felt like she was getting to the main point.

Let me quickly hear what this is about and then leave.

“My brother is, well, a bit older. He’s thirty-three…… His marriage has been delayed a bit, but there’s no other issue. It’s just that he has high standards? That’s why he hasn’t found his match yet. I also married late because I have high standards, and well, you know. People like us who have a lot can’t easily meet people and such.”

“Ah…… Yes.”

Another story I’m not particularly curious about is dragging on.

“But that guy, at the sports day, saw you and, oh my! I feel a bit embarrassed saying this.”

“Madam, it’s fine, please go ahead.”

The conversation is getting longer, but I still have no idea what the core point is.

Sigh…….

“So he seems to have fallen for you at first sight.”

“……Pardon?”

“Since he was raised preciously from a young age, he hasn’t been able to settle his heart until now, but look! Now he’s running this café well too. He is a bit short, but he has a good build. You know? For men, it’s about physique.”

“Madam! Wait a moment. So, what you’re trying to say is……”

“Teacher, would you consider meeting my brother once?”

“……!”

This is so absurd.

“Ah, our family is good at making money, but we don’t have anyone who has particularly excelled in, what should I call it, academics. Ah, of course, Natalie is an exception. Natalie will soon excel in studies too. We have a lot of money, and you’re smart, so there couldn’t be a better match. When I heard that you graduated from Steen University, and with top honors at that, you can’t imagine how perfect I thought it was. I was really surprised.”

Madam, I’m even more surprised right now.

“Madam, I really appreciate your words, but I’m not ready to meet anyone yet. Right now, all my attention is focused on how to make our class children have a happy school life, and I have no emotional room for anything else. I also have important personal matters.”

“Oh my! There’s no need to think so hastily. Aren’t you twenty-two years old? Your marriageable age will pass quickly. An eleven-year age difference, if you think about it……”

“Madam! I’m really sorry, but I have no intention of being introduced to anyone right now. I’m truly sorry.”

To meet a parent’s brother?

Well, yes, that could happen.

But I really don’t have the slightest desire to do so.

I didn’t want to originally, but the more I talked with Natalie’s mother, the less I wanted to meet Natalie’s uncle.

Having gathered all sorts of personal information about me, and then pushing conditions on me out of nowhere!

“No, don’t answer so quickly. Steve, oh, my brother’s name is Steve. Anyway, Steve is busy with his business, but I told him to come to the sports day to see you. And look. Steve likes you too. Wouldn’t your feelings change if you met him? Well, Steve has inherited a lot of wealth, but he’s also incredibly pure-hearted and generous.”

“Madam!”

“If you change your mind, just contact me through Natalie anytime.”

It seemed her words weren’t getting through to Natalie’s mother at all.

But she couldn’t leave her thinking there was still a possibility.

“Madam, I really appreciate your good opinion of me. If I had a bit more emotional room, I might have considered your kindness more positively, but right now I truly don’t have that capacity. I’m sorry. I hope your brother meets someone else good, not me.”

In truth, she wasn’t grateful at all, nor was she particularly sorry.

She just felt uncomfortable and awkward about this one-sided meeting proposal that she hadn’t even wanted.

But she carefully chose her words to reject as politely as possible without causing offense.

“Even if you’re busy now, you never know when you might have free time. So if you change your mind, please be sure to let me know.”

“I don’t think that will happen……”

“Please finish your tea, Teacher.”

Natalie’s mother pretended not to hear her last words and changed the subject.

She had thought saying that much would be considered a perfect rejection……

It seemed Natalie’s mother didn’t think her words were a rejection. Or perhaps she had no intention of accepting a rejection from the start.

She truly was a parent who didn’t match with her at all.

The words “I absolutely don’t want to meet him, I hate the idea” rose to her throat, but she couldn’t bring herself to say them. The parent might think she was dismissing her goodwill.

If this woman weren’t a parent, she could reject her more directly and definitively.

Today especially, the teacher-parent relationship felt more burdensome.

“The tea is really delicious, isn’t it?”

“Ah, yes.”

No, the tea doesn’t taste good anymore.

Perhaps the taste of the tea, which she had found delicious until just a moment ago, now tasted bitter?

Though she wasn’t physically ill, strangely, at this moment, she desperately longed for the ginger tea she had left on the table in her quarters—tea that comforted not just her body but her soul as well.

⁕⁕⁕

After a three-day weekend, the children who came to school after a long time were busy from the morning talking about what happened during the weekend and last week’s sports day.

“During morning self-study time, you should take out your books and read. Those who haven’t taken out their books yet, please do so.”

She told them to read quietly in the morning, but within a few minutes, the classroom became noisy again.

“Now, if you find words we’ve learned in the book you read this morning, write those words in your notebook. You need to find at least three.”

“What does ‘at least three’ mean?”

‘Natalie.’

Seeing Natalie asking the question reminded her of meeting her mother yesterday.

‘Let’s not think about that anymore!’

Connie shook off the thought.

She had inadvertently written the word ‘at least,’ which was certainly a difficult word for first graders.

“‘At least three’ means three or more than three. Like three, four, five, and so on. So you need to find three or more.”

“What about six?”

“Any number that is 3 or greater works.”

“What about 7?”

“Natalie? Before asking, try thinking once more on your own. Will 7 work or not?”

“I don’t know. Will it?”

“……”

Answering Natalie’s questions felt more difficult than usual.

“Will it?”

“Yes, it will. But Natalie, I’d like you to try developing the habit of finding answers on your own before asking questions. It’s difficult for me to answer every question.”

“……”

Natalie briefly made eye contact with Connie, then without replying, lowered her head and flipped through her book.

That was a signal she was angry.

“Hmm……”

Connie had many thoughts as she watched Natalie.

Natalie lagged behind other children in both Korean and math and had many knowledge gaps.

Of course, asking about what you don’t know is a very good attitude, but the problem was that she asked about everything without making any effort or attempt to think.

She would develop faster if she made an effort.

After Natalie’s questions ended, the children quickly quieted down as they worked on the task Connie had given them.

While the children were reading, Connie called them one by one to the teacher’s desk to distribute second quarter tuition notices.

“Teacher, are you going to marry Natalie’s uncle?”

But William, who came to receive his notice, said something outrageous in an angry voice.

“What?”

“Natalie said earlier that you’re going to marry her uncle.”

“……”

Connie bit her lower lip.

Mrs. Maison! What a strange parent!

“Is it true?”

William asked as if interrogating her.

Why do you seem angry again? I’m the one who should be angry right now!

“No! Absolutely not. Natalie completely misunderstood. I have no such intention whatsoever!”

“Really? Truly?”

“Yes, truly.”

Even having this conversation was irritating.

Why on earth did she have to hear this from a student and give an answer?

“I understand.”

William seemed satisfied with the answer and returned to his seat with a pleased expression, holding his notice.

“Natalie, come here please.”

The next notice wasn’t Natalie’s, but it seemed necessary to change the order.

She couldn’t let her spread false rumors to the children anymore.

No, wait.

Hasn’t she already spread them?

Sigh…….

What can I do?

It’s not an issue that needs to be addressed in front of all the children by saying “Teacher is not marrying Natalie’s uncle.”

“Yes, what is it, Teacher?”

Natalie came forward with her lips protruding in a pout. She still seemed upset from earlier.

She wanted to scold her for spreading false rumors, but Natalie might have just repeated what she heard from her mother.

Or perhaps she misunderstood what she heard.

She couldn’t scold her for that.

“Natalie, I am not marrying your uncle. I called you because you seem to have misunderstood. So don’t tell your friends such things. I am not marrying your uncle.”

Connie deliberately repeated the same words one more time at the end. Loudly, so it could be heard throughout the classroom.

It wasn’t something she should officially say in front of the children, but she wanted to prevent false rumors from spreading even like this.

“Ugh, so noisy!”

Natalie covered her ears and frowned.

She wanted to teach her that saying “noisy” to a teacher was inappropriate, but since her voice had indeed been loud, she decided to let it go.

She needed to address more important matters.

“Did you hear what I said?”

“Yes.”

“What did I say?”

“That you’re not getting married.”

“Yes! That’s right. So now you shouldn’t tell your friends incorrect things anymore, understand?”

“……”

Natalie didn’t properly answer and almost snatched the notice from Connie’s hand before returning to her seat.

“Whew……!”

She felt like she’d been hit in the head by the Maison women two days in a row.

⁕⁕⁕

“Dad, I like our teacher.”

Graham stopped cutting his steak at the dinner table and stared at William when he suddenly spoke.

“So I think I would be really angry if the teacher married someone.”

“……”

Graham just listened, wondering why William looked so solemn today.

Marriage? Out of nowhere…….

“But from what I’ve seen, the teacher might marry someone.”

Clang.

The knife and fork that Graham unconsciously put down clattered against the plate, the sound echoing through the quiet dining room.

“What… do you mean by that, William?”

“Today Natalie said so. She said our teacher might marry her uncle.”

“……What?”

What strange nonsense is this?

“She said because Natalie’s uncle is rich, he’ll marry our teacher. Natalie’s mom likes the teacher because she’s smart, and Natalie’s uncle likes her because she’s pretty. How rich do you think Natalie’s uncle is? Is he rich enough that the teacher would want to marry him?”

“……Natalie’s uncle? Is Natalie in your class?”

“Yes.”

The Duke’s right hand, now empty after putting down his fork, clenched into a fist.

Natalie? Who is that exactly? Whose child is she?

Except for the Brightling family and the royal family, there was no family in this kingdom with more wealth than his own.

But Count Brightling’s nephew was a boy, and the princess’s name was Daniella.

So what’s this about marrying because he’s rich…….

“What’s Natalie’s last name?”

“Maison. She’s Natalie Maison.”

“Maison?”

It was a family name he’d never heard before.

Was it a lower nobility or gentry family?

“Did your teacher say that? That she’s getting married?”

“No, the teacher said she’s not.”

“Haah……!”

A sigh of relief escaped him.

Relief? Is this something to be relieved about?

He felt strange.

This was because William had suddenly said something odd. If a child’s homeroom teacher suddenly said she was getting married, a parent might naturally feel tense, right?

Why on earth did William bring up this marriage talk that wouldn’t even happen?

“But why did you tell Dad she might get married?”

“I like our teacher, but I realized I’m not the only one who likes her. So I learned that the teacher might someday marry someone.”

“……!”

He felt as if an iron ball had suddenly hit the back of his head.

“I’m not the only one who likes her”…….

That’s right.

Yes…… I see!

Teacher Connie Clarence was a young, pretty, unmarried woman.

To the extent that she was said to be a target for male students at Steen University.

So, as William said, she could marry anyone, anytime.

Unlike himself, who had been married, lost his wife, and now shouldered the responsibility of raising his son alone.

⟨You don’t need to be so careful with me. Think of it comfortably. The Duke’s feelings are most important, right? Perhaps that would be better for William too.⟩

Connie Clarence’s words from several days ago came back to him.

My feelings are most important…….

My feelings…….

And those feelings of mine, at the fact that such a beautifully smiling woman might marry someone…….

No! He had to stop thinking about this.

“William, Dad is curious about something.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“How would you feel about having a new mother?”

What was most important to him wasn’t his own feelings.

What matters is William’s feelings.

If William says he doesn’t need a ‘new mother’ to replace his ‘mother,’ then such worries become meaningless.

“……”

“I’m just asking. Your thoughts are most important to Dad.”

“I don’t need a new mother.”

“Ah…… I see.”

As expected, that’s how it is.

“If Hazel Gracious, that kind of woman, became my new mother, I hate the idea of having a new mother.”

“……What?”

Why was that woman suddenly being mentioned?

Considering the friendship between his late parents and her parents, he had allowed her to visit a few times.

He only remembered her as a very young girl who used to visit with her parents when he was young, and he thought she was visiting to comfort an old friend who had lost his wife as an acquaintance.

After all, many acquaintances had visited to offer condolences after he lost Laina.

He had even allowed her to spend time with them several times, believing her words about wanting to comfort William, who had lost his mother, were thoughtful and considerate.

Anyway, as an adult woman, he thought she might notice things that he, as a man, might miss.

But after realizing that her goal was to be by his side, he had firmly put up a wall.

He told her that since he had no intention of seeing anyone, if that was her purpose for visiting, she should never come again.

Though he spoke politely and indirectly, he made it clear enough that anyone with minimal comprehension would understand, leaving no room for misunderstanding or lingering attachment.

Because of that, she hadn’t visited for a while, and he thought she had finally given up. But a few days ago, she had appeared at the opera house again and irritated him by doing something strange in front of Teacher Connie Clarence.

And now it turned out she hadn’t just irritated him.

William was still a child!

In fact, William wasn’t the type of child who couldn’t express his feelings and just endured, so he must have expressed his dislike while maintaining politeness.

But it probably hadn’t worked at all.

If even his own words hadn’t gotten through to her, she probably didn’t care at all about what a young child like William said.

His anger toward Hazel Gracious rose anew.

Was even the basic courtesy he had shown too much for that woman?

“No. That woman will absolutely never be your new mother, so don’t worry. And you won’t have a new mother……”

“I hate the idea of having a new mother if it’s not someone I like.”

“Yes, no need to worry. Dad will absolutely never……”

“But if someone I like became my new mother, I think I would really like that.”

“……!”

William cut off his words. It felt like an iron mass larger than the iron ball that had hit him earlier had flown in and blown his head off.

To the point where he couldn’t say anything.

“You remember who I said I like, right?”

“……!”

The person you like.

Yes, even just during this dinner, he had already mentioned it twice.

⟨Dad, I like our teacher. I like our teacher.⟩

William was now openly saying that he wanted “Teacher Connie Clarence” to become his new mother.

He had never said anything like this before.

⟨I realized I’m not the only one who likes her. So I learned that the teacher might someday marry someone.⟩

Was this why?

Well, even he himself—how had he felt when he heard those words?

Besides, it was William, not himself, who had liked Teacher Clarence first.

In fact, 90% of the reason he started looking at the teacher was because of William.

The remaining 10% was probably her smile.

Now that he realized it, that beautiful smile seemed like it might have been more than just 10%.

“……Yes. I understand.”

After that final answer, Graham didn’t have any more conversation with William until dinner was over.

He was so deeply lost in thought that he didn’t even realize he wasn’t talking to his son, nor did he notice when William, who had been keenly observing his father’s mood, whispered very quietly, “I’ll go now,” and left the dining room.

Even after his son had left, Graham remained alone for a long time, staring down at his plate where the food remained almost untouched. After a while, he muttered to himself, “Connie…… Wayne.”

Unaware of what he was saying, he didn’t notice at all that William, who had been secretly watching his father from outside the dining room door, finally returned quietly to his room with a slight smile at that moment.

⁕⁕⁕

Ryan immediately summoned Eric after Daniella added one last story just before leaving, after recounting what had happened in the classroom today.

“Why did you take so long to get here!”

Although Eric appeared less than five minutes after being called, those five minutes felt like five hours.

“As always, I arrived within three minutes?”

Eric frowned openly as he replied.

“Whew.”

Ryan realized this wasn’t something to be irritated at Eric about and exhaled to calm himself.

Now was the time when he needed Eric’s abilities more than ever, not the time to unfairly upset him.

“There’s a child named Natalie Maison. She’s a girl in Daniella’s class, and apparently she has a maternal uncle.”

“Pardon?”

Eric frowned even more with one eye, asking as if he didn’t understand.

Eric wasn’t someone who usually misunderstood words, but he seemed a bit confused.

Well, I did speak rather abruptly.

It was equally abrupt news.

“There’s a female student named Natalie Maison in Connie Clarence’s class. That girl’s mother, so Mrs. Maison, right? Mrs. Maison has a younger brother, who would be Natalie’s maternal uncle? I heard that Natalie said her homeroom teacher is going to marry that uncle.”

“Whaaaat?”

“Did you understand?”

“Did I understand correctly? You’re saying that Teacher Connie Clarence is going to marry that female student’s uncle?”

“Yes, I know it’s hard to understand. Because it doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t make sense at all. It’s nonsense!”

“Your Highness?”

“Haah…… Whew……”

Repeating it made him even more heated than when he first heard it.

“Your Highness, I think you need to exhale a bit longer.”

Is this bastard Eric teaching me breathing techniques now? This is making me even more heated.

“Shut up.”

“Yes!”

“It seems like Natalie was talking nonsense, since I heard she’s a child who rambles incoherently. Connie also said it wasn’t true, apparently speaking loudly enough for even Daniella to hear from her seat.”

“Ah, so some child just made up a lie on her own?”

“Yes, that’s it exactly.”

“But why did you summon me? Children that age often say nonsensical things and make up stories……”

“Eric.”

“Yes?”

“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”

“……Please continue.”

“Even if it’s nonsense, having heard such a thing, I think we need to verify the facts. Find out who Natalie Maison’s parents are, if she has a maternal uncle, and what kind of person that uncle is.”

“But…… even a child’s nonsense……”

“Is my instruction too difficult? Should I explain it again?”

“Ah…… No! I’ll investigate and return within two hours.”

“Good! You may go. Ah! Wait!”

Ryan stopped Eric, who had already taken a few steps toward the door.

“Yes?”

“If this uncle person actually exists, make a composite sketch and bring it back.”

“Well, going that far.”

“Sir Gosling?”

“Yes! Understood. Including the composite sketch, it will take about two hours and 30 minutes.”

“Alright, thank you.”

Watching Eric leave the room quickly, Ryan pressed his forehead firmly.

When he met Connie at the opera house, he had been consumed by unnecessary jealousy and completely ruined their conversation.

On top of that, there was still no reply to the letter he had sent first.

And now to hear such a thing in this situation.

Since Connie had denied it in front of the children, it probably wasn’t true, but if Natalie really did have an uncle, this was definitely an issue that needed to be addressed.

Exactly two hours and 28 minutes later.

Eric returned with a composite sketch.

Ryan looked at the sketch Eric handed him and tilted his head.

Was the time too tight to clearly draw the eyes, nose, and mouth in the composite?

It seemed like he had stopped drawing the composite to meet the promised time. Even so, to bring something like this!

“Is this…… right? Why did you stop drawing the face!”

“Your Highness, I didn’t stop halfway. Even though it looks that way, this is a very accurate completed composite.”

“You’re saying this is fully drawn?”

“That’s right. In reality, he looks rather…… how should I put it…… faint. His eyes, nose, and mouth are pressed into his flesh.”

“Buried, you mean.”

“That’s one way to put it. Actually, because of that, I also made a full-body composite sketch in addition to the face. It’s just a sketch level…… but I thought you would need to see this too to accurately grasp the overall impression.”

Eric held out another piece of paper.

“……”

Ryan received the full-body composite sketch paper and closed his mouth.

The appearance of the man in the full-body composite was so complicated that he didn’t even want to comment further.

He was too short but had a protruding belly, was half bald but had a mountain-like build.

Even the face in this sketch…… is this really fully drawn?

In the end, feeling somehow extremely disgusted, Ryan flipped over the full-body sketch paper on the desk.

“What about his personal information?”

“He’s the maternal uncle of a child named Natalie Maison, who is in the same class as the Princess. His name is Steve Sachsen, age thirty-three, the youngest son of the gentry family Sachsen.”

“Thirty what? Are you sure you didn’t research the wrong person?”

“This is the right person.”

“You said he’s thirty-three.”

“Yes, to be precise, he’s thirty-three and will turn thirty-four next month.”

“……”

Goosebumps covered his entire body. How could such a man be mentioned together with Connie?

“Despite his age, he is still unmarried. He has never been officially married.”

He didn’t even want to hear more.

He just exhaled deeply to calm his rising anger.

Eric looked at him for a moment, then continued with the report that he didn’t even want to hear.

“It seems he inherited some wealth, but having only spent and never earned at that age, he appears to have squandered almost everything. It seems he sold his buildings one after another as card games turned into gambling bets. He appears to have lived extravagantly, indulging in all sorts of unhealthy hobbies.”

“Hmm…… Whew.”

Is he a man who lived a blurry life to match his blurry appearance?

“Recently, it seems his brother-in-law, Mr. Maison, that is, his sister’s husband, set up a café for him to live properly, but he hardly stays at the store, and someone employed by his brother-in-law runs it instead. And although he’s never married, he seems to have had plenty of unsavory interests in that area, regularly frequenting brothels.”

“……”

Ryan continued to take deep breaths to maintain his composure, but finally his hands began to tremble, and before he knew it, the composite sketch on the desk was completely crumpled.

“To summarize, he’s the kind of trash…… that exists in every household.”

“Such a piece of trash……”

“And this trash has been going around saying he’s going to marry a young, pretty woman from a noble family who graduated from Steen University with highest honors.”

“Crazy……”

“And…… no, never mind.”

Eric, who had been reporting things without even being asked, suddenly started to speak but then closed his mouth.

“What is it! Tell me.”

“Hmm….. Ahem! He said he would sleep with her first before marriage to check if she’s a virgin…… If she’s not a virgin, he would break off the engagement……”

BANG!

Ryan unconsciously slammed his fist on the desk.

“I’ll kill him.”

It wasn’t a thought-out statement.

“Such trash might actually be better off dead, but that’s difficult in a country governed by the rule of law.”

Eric, who had flinched momentarily, muttered as if to himself.

“Has Connie…… met…… this bastard?”

The mere thought of Connie meeting such filthy trash made his body tremble.

“Well, I apologize. The time was a bit tight to investigate that precisely.”

“How much more time do you need? Can you find out before I go kill this bastard?”

“I hear he frequents gambling dens at this hour. Since I’ve identified his whereabouts, two hours should be sufficient. Can you wait that long?”

“I’ll leave if you’re even one minute late.”

“Yes.”

Eric left.

As Eric said, one cannot kill people in a country governed by the rule of law.

Yes, a prince of a country, someone who is to become a ruler, should not do such a thing.

Yes, he shouldn’t, but…….

“Haah……”

Even the composite sketch felt dirty, so he tore the already completely crumpled paper into pieces and threw it into the fireplace.

As much as he wanted to tear that trash of a human being like that composite sketch and throw him into the fireplace.

But he shouldn’t do that…….

He shouldn’t, but…….

Tick-tock-tick.

The sound of the second hand seemed to have been heard millions of times when Eric finally returned.

“The two have never met personally.”

“Haah……”

At Eric’s report, Ryan’s heart, which had seemed to rot, began to beat again.

Just knowing that Connie hadn’t seen such a dirty face brought a wave of relief.

Connie should only see pretty and clean things. Yes, that’s right!

“However, it seems that Steve Sachsen started talking nonsense on his own after seeing Teacher Clarence at the Steen Elementary School sports day. Actually, it doesn’t seem like he came voluntarily. Mrs. Maison, that is, Natalie’s mother, seems to have forcibly brought her brother along. Someone heard her saying something about needing to bring a smart woman into the house. Steve Sachsen was initially indifferent, saying he wanted to see a woman with a pretty body rather than a pretty head, but when he actually saw Teacher Connie, his eyes went crazy……”

“Stop!…… That’s enough! My ears feel like they’re rotting.”

This must happen because Connie Clarence is too pretty.

Even garbage that’s already rotten and stinking still has eyes to see with.

But it’s not like he could hide Connie Clarence somewhere.

Thinking about it again, the fact that Connie Clarence had never even met that man wasn’t much consolation either.

Because everyone could see Connie anytime, anywhere.

Starting with trash like him, to mad dogs, to widowers with children, even to someone like Ethan Schwab who probably never stopped pursuing women.

“How would you like to handle this?”

“……”

The problem was that just because trash had eyes and a mouth, he couldn’t kill it.

This country was governed by the rule of law, and he was the one who would protect those laws and govern the country according to them.

Although the trash deserved to die just for having dirty thoughts about Connie and coveting her.

Still…….

“Your Highness.”

“If you have nothing more to report, you may leave.”

He couldn’t decide right away.

If he gave an order right now, he might order the killing of that piece of trash, regardless of reason.

He needed time to think in order to come up with a rational yet effective way to handle this.

Right now, he was too emotionally biased to find his reason.

He needed to cool his heart and head.

“Your Highness, actually, I had some time left, so I looked into one more thing.”

Ryan, who had been resting his chin on his hand, just raised his eyes to look at Eric.

What was he trying to say by dragging this out?

“I’d appreciate it if you’d leave now unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“That café. The café that Steve Sachsen opened. The building it’s in isn’t owned by him, nor is it owned by Mr. Maison. It’s not that Mr. Maison doesn’t have any buildings in his name, but that café is a store that Mr. Maison rented for his brother-in-law. The location is so prime that no space had been available for years, and it seems he recently managed to secure it.”

“Is that important information?”

Ryan, whose nerves were already on edge, finally completely crumpled his face.

Was he too polite in asking him to leave?

He couldn’t understand why Eric was reciting such completely unimportant information detail by detail.

Whether the trash was doing business in a building owned by his brother-in-law or in someone else’s building, the fact that he was trash remained unchanged.

Eric should be able to guess his current state. Despite that, if he thought it was worth reporting such useless facts like location and building ownership in a secretive voice, shouldn’t Eric retire?

“Well, it might be important in some ways, and not important in others. Doesn’t it depend on how you use that information?”

“Eric, I think even Princess Daniella, who is seven years old, could notice that I’m not in the mood for wordplay, let alone a twenty-five-year-old prince’s aide.”

“That building is owned by Count Andrew Brightling.”

“……Hmm?”

Why was that name suddenly coming up?

“Actually, trash should be disposed of or incinerated, but that’s just my personal opinion, and given that Teacher Clarence hasn’t even met this human, it might be a bit…… inappropriate for Your Highness to take ‘direct’ private measures against this human. It’s not like I didn’t see anything at that restaurant called Tempi, and I clearly saw Count Brightling hitting on Teacher Clarence…… Yes, that’s why I’m telling you this.”

“What are you say…… Ah!”

Eric.

Eric Gosling.

Ah…… this lovely friend.

Suggesting leaking information to Count Brightling—this vile fellow was undoubtedly the most capable aide in the world.

So capable that it made Ryan want to grant him a noble title when he became king, despite this vicious and excellent second son of a ducal family having no title to inherit.

While making him the godfather of the pretty daughter who resembled Connie that might be born between Connie and himself.

“That’s…… too vicious a trick, Sir Eric Gosling.”

“Well, yes. Your Highness certainly couldn’t show noblesse oblige, let alone use the affections of a male rival competing for the same woman to take vicious private revenge. Yes, I understand perfectly. So please forget my vulgar and base words.”

“Right. I’m not that kind of person.”

Yes, that’s not something I would do.

“Yes…… well, I just informed you, so please forget it.”

“I’ve already forgotten.”

“Yes, I already felt that. Your Highness is someone who only walks the righteous path.”

“Yes, completely unlike you.”

“Pardon? There’s no need to say such things……”

“I’m just saying that even if you were to inform Count Brightling ‘without my knowledge’ about the fact that the trash lusting after Connie is a tenant in a building owned by Count Brightling, it’s already something I’ve forgotten.”

“Wow, really shameless……”

Capable but insolent fellow.

“No matter how shameless, I’m still a noble prince, Eric.”

“I suppose so. The leaking is something I’ll handle on my own, while Your Highness has already forgotten about it.”

Eric sneered.

He was insolent, but now was the time to humor him.

“As expected of a Steen University highest honors graduate.”

“Didn’t you once say that if the grading system had been just slightly different, Your Highness would have graduated with highest honors?”

“Hmm, no, no! Now that I think about it, Sir Gosling would have graduated with highest honors regardless of the system.”

To even find out that the building was owned by Count Brightling.

This guy really is a genius.

The best talent to have as an aide.

“It’s thanks to Teacher Connie Clarence that you’ve realized this obvious fact, so we should be grateful to her.”

“Yes, deeply grateful. By the way, a mad dog might bite a person, but it won’t kill them. Right?”

“There’s no such precedent yet.”

“It should stay that way. He’s the uncle of a classmate of Daniella’s, so he shouldn’t go to prison. Be sure to warn about that.”

I wouldn’t mind if he did, but it would be problematic if a major incident occurred where one student’s uncle killed another student’s uncle, with the teacher caught in between.

“Yes! Unlike Your Highness, I, who silently walk in the shadows, will now go vilely and viciously leak information. Your Highness can elegantly and nobly forget everything and just wait for the results.”

“Hmm…… I don’t know what you’re talking about, but good work, Eric.”

“Wow, so noble, so noble.”

Eric left the office, muttering to himself in a voice loud enough for a speech contest.

Seeing him shake his head, it felt like he was avoiding noble trash to go to dirty trash.

This fellow whose insolence pierced the heavens.

We both know what’s happening, it’s applause we’re both in on, but he just has to sneer once to feel satisfied, doesn’t he?

Anyway, he had to endure that insolence now.

Because Eric was perfectly capable in everything.

Even in trash disposal.

In fact, the reason he was handling the trash attached to Connie Clarence in such a delicate way was all for Eric’s own satisfaction.

Eric was a person who took pride in his ability as an aide to protect the honor and dignity of the prince who would inherit the throne without even the slightest scratch.

Perfect handling of affairs was directly connected to his pride.

His thorough cooperation with the secret author activities was in the same vein. Because it was part of not damaging the prince’s honor.

It was clear that Eric’s perceived scope of duty included protecting the honor not only of the prince himself but also of the future princess consort, and perhaps even the future queen.

Even if that woman might not become the princess consort due to her lack of interest in the prince.

“Whew……”

He said not to kill him, so he probably wouldn’t kill him, but considering Count Brightling’s usual temperament, Ryan could imagine how fiercely the mad dog would bite the trash named Steve Sachsen, and with that, the extreme anger and stress that had built up in a short time melted away.

Eric Gosling, perfect to the point of being creepy.

He was definitely capable.

⁕⁕⁕

Eric, who had returned after disposing of the trash named Steve Sachsen, even delivered Connie’s letter to the palace in the pitch-dark night before going home.

At this rate, he might fall in love with Eric.

⟨On my way to do vile things, I stopped by the post office. I was going to deliver it to you tomorrow, but then Your Highness would tonight…….⟩

And so on and so forth. He always does this right when things are going well.

He cut off Eric’s lengthy self-praise and kicked him out.

There was no reason to look at the face of a man soaked in self-pride, boasting in detail when he could be using that time to read Connie’s letter.

[Hello, Author Leonie.

This is Connie Clarence.

I was so excited and happy to receive your letter that I couldn’t help but write back as soon as I received it.

Above all, I can’t tell you how surprised I was to learn that you are only three years older than me.

My goodness…….

Why did I think you were my parents’ age?

I had thought that for so long that I had forgotten why I thought so in the first place, but I just remembered.

It was because of your pen name, ‘Leonie.’

Actually, it was because of the pen name ‘Leonie’ that I happened to pick up your first novel from the new books section of the library.

I don’t know if Leonie is your real name or a pen name, but actually, Leonie is my mother’s name.

She passed away, but my mother’s name was originally Leonie Pleasure.

Her name before marriage was Leonie Clarence.

My name is Connie Clarence, so it’s strange that my mother’s name before marriage was Leonie Clarence, right?

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before, but actually, after both my parents passed away, I was adopted and raised by my maternal uncle.

So my surname changed to my uncle’s, and that’s how I ended up taking the surname Clarence, which was my mother’s surname before marriage.]

Leonie was her mother’s name?

Hmm…….

I took it from the name of a girl I met by chance.

Anyway, it was clear that ‘Leonie’ was a precious name that connected Connie and himself.

“Yes, Connie, now call me brother. Stop treating me like a grandmother.”

Ryan murmured contentedly as he moved his gaze to the next line.

[Actually, I don’t have a good relationship with my uncle. To be more honest, it’s not just not good, it’s seriously bad.

So I don’t really like the surname Clarence either, but since it’s also my mother’s surname, I think I should view it positively.

I have so much I want to tell you, but my thoughts are jumping all over the place, so I’ve written all these details that weren’t even in my plan.]

“Maternal uncle……”

He knew. He also knew that a man called Viscount Clarence was Connie’s maternal uncle.

But seeing that she described their relationship as seriously bad, it seemed that this uncle must have had some issues.

Connie wasn’t the type of person to dislike someone without reason.

Having received over 100 letters over several years, he knew exactly what kind of person Connie was even before meeting her in person.

This woman was upright, positive, thoughtful, and deeply considerate.

For such a woman to have a seriously bad relationship with her adoptive father and blood uncle meant that there must have been something seriously wrong between them. And that something was, 100 times out of 100, likely a problem with the man who was the viscount.

They say blood is thicker than water, but he had come to hold Connie in his heart partly because he knew her inner self.

Come to think of it, that human Steve Sachsen was also the maternal uncle of a child in Connie’s class.

Are all these maternal uncles connected to Connie problematic?

[Anyway, that’s why I thought of you as my parents’ age.

The pen name is the same as my mother’s, and the beautiful and precious sentences in your writing are like what my father used to say to me.

That’s why I came to love your novels.

Of course, that was just the initial reason, and the more I read, the more I found pure enjoyment in your writing.]

Her mother’s name and her father’s words.

“Hmm……”

It made Ryan somewhat uncomfortable that Connie was finding traces of her parents in him.

But after reading the next line, he became much more uncomfortable.

[Ah…… Sister! Sis Leoniee!

I’ve wanted to call you that once.

I don’t have an older sister.

Now you feel like my older sister rather than my parents.

Maybe that’s why you feel more familiar to me now.]

“Why is she doing this, really?”

Ryan grabbed the back of his neck.

Of course, he hadn’t revealed that he was a man, but still, to call him ‘sister’…

Is it better to be thought of as ‘parents’?

Goodness! Maybe I should reveal my gender in the next letter.

[And you live in Barfal?

Then perhaps we’ve met before?

Walking down the street, or at a place like a restaurant, or even at a bookstore.

Actually, I graduated from Steen University in Barfal, and I wonder if you might have graduated from Steen University too.

Am I letting my imagination run too wild?

If you graduated from Steen University, might you have encountered me at the university? Since we’re only three years apart.]

Steen University.

I see.

Only now did Ryan realize that he and Connie could have met at Steen University.

A belated sense of regret washed over him.

If he hadn’t graduated a year early, he and Connie might have crossed paths several times during that year on the same campus.

Then they could have met as seniors and juniors at school, rather than as author and reader, or teacher and parent.

What would that have been like?

He remembered the day he first saw Connie’s face at the graduation ceremony.

Even the feeling of his heart plummeting as he watched her ascend the podium.

What if he had first encountered Connie as senior and junior at university? Would his heart have plummeted at first sight like it did at the graduation ceremony?

[And even if we haven’t met until now, we might still run into each other in the future.

Actually, I would love to meet you in person someday, but don’t worry, I have no intention of becoming an inconsiderate reader who bothers you that much.

No matter how much I like you as an author, if I don’t have the heart to respect your privacy, I would be unqualified as a reader.

Oh! But if you ever say you want to meet me, I would be over the moon with joy and would run to you anytime. Remember that!]

Ryan found himself smiling unconsciously.

[Thank you so much for the advice you gave me in your last letter out of concern for me.

The parent who asked to buy me a meal is truly, as you said, someone lacking in manners and consideration. Every time I meet him, my aversion only grows.

But that makes me care even more for his nephew.

Because the child isn’t receiving proper love at home due to his parents’ indifference and his uncle’s rude behavior.

I really hate that uncle (author, this is truly a secret, so please keep it to yourself), but for the child’s sake, I should try to maintain at least a minimally friendly relationship since I’ll need his cooperation for various matters concerning the child.]

Don’t even maintain the minimum.

The answer is to avoid mad dogs.

[And the Duke…… Oh! The father of the child who lost his mother is a Duke.

He is quite a famous Duke, but due to professional ethics, I cannot tell you his name.

Anyway, I understand your concerns about that Duke.

However, I recently happened to see the Duke outside of school, and surprisingly, it seems he has a woman he’s dating.

Like you mentioned, I had worried that the child might be expecting from me things I couldn’t provide, but perhaps it’s a good thing since the child might get a new mother.

I also had a brief conversation with the Duke, and he seemed a bit embarrassed that he showed his homeroom teacher that he was with a woman he’s dating. But he doesn’t need to feel that way.

There’s no law saying one must endure the grief of losing a wife alone for a long time.

It can’t be easy to meet someone new, so if such a person has come along, I think it’s right to follow one’s feelings.

I told him that, and the Duke seemed to think so too.

I only hope that woman and the child in my class build a good relationship.]

“Damn it!”

Connie, this innocent woman, seemed to have been enchanted by the fox-like Duke’s words and actions.

There is no woman he’s dating.

He just has many women following him around.

The grief of losing a wife should be endured alone for a long, long time. How long has it been since he lost his wife that he’s already meeting another woman!

Connie, were you always this tolerant and understanding?

You shouldn’t show that to just anyone! Absolutely not!

He was furious, wondering what conversation she had with the Duke at the opera house that led to such words.

He had seen her talking with the Duke after parting with him.

Her face was flushed, perhaps from drinking, as she looked at the Duke’s detestable smile, and he hadn’t even heard what the people crowding around him were saying.

Fortunately, Eric had listened and responded for him.

“Hmm……”

Duke Wayne, Duke Wayne.

Somehow he had been bothered from the beginning…….

[And author.

About that parent you asked me to tell you more about.]

Ryan’s heart began to beat faster as he read the next line.

That parent he had asked to know more about was himself.

Ryan’s gaze rushed to the next line as urgently as his heartbeat.

[About him, I feel like I both have nothing to say and a lot to say. Because I really don’t know. I have no idea what kind of thoughts he has.

Actually, before meeting him as a parent, I first met him in an unexpected place, and it feels like our relationship has been misaligned from that first button. Because he witnessed a scene I wouldn’t want to show anyone.]

Being witnessed confessing my unrequited love to Ethan Schwab in the Steen University campus was unpleasant for me too!

[But the behavior he showed me afterward was that of a very polite and kind parent, so although I had some discomfort before writing to you last time, when I met him again afterward, he once again seemed like the kind and thoughtful person he was before.]

Yes, end it with kind and thoughtful person, Connie!

However, looking at the following sentences, Connie had no intention of doing so.

[But you know what! I happened to meet that parent outside of school today. And I was really disappointed in him.]

Disappointed…….

His heart, which had been racing quickly, now fell into an abyss of unfathomable depth.

[He actually looked really impressive at the sports day.]

For a moment, it felt like he had escaped from the abyss, but only briefly.

[I was so disappointed that I could almost forget how impressive and excellent he appeared at the sports day.

I just don’t understand why he acts toward me according to his own mood.

To think he was such a moody and temperamental person.

I can’t express how disappointed I am.]

With the very next line, he plummeted to the bottom of an even deeper abyss.

[He even criticized my clothes, my attire.

My goodness, how could he do that? Can a parent speak so carelessly like that?

Especially someone who should be setting an example for others!]

“……!”

What was this about?

Ryan was slightly dumbfounded.

Criticizing her attire? When did I ever?

He had been concerned because he thought she was beautiful enough to catch the attention of everyone at the opera house, but when did he criticize…….

“Ah!”

⟨Isn’t your outfit too eye-catching? Wearing such clothes, in such a place, sitting like that, I…….⟩

He had said something like that!

Thinking about it now, it was an incredibly stupid thing to say that could easily be taken as criticism.

It was because she was so pretty, so eye-catching, that he was angry seeing all the men looking at Connie, and he had momentarily lost his reason.

“Crazy fool, stupid idiot, dumb moron.”

He wanted to heap all kinds of insults on himself, perhaps more than he had ever self-reproached in his life.

No!

Even so!

Does she have so little self-awareness?

To be upset by the words of a madman whose eyes were spinning with jealousy.

Although he knew it was an unreasonable complaint even to himself, he wanted to blame Connie.

Because she was a woman who had no idea how beautiful she was, or how powerful that outfit was that showed all of herself completely.

Even though he knew it was just an excuse with no room for justification.

Because Connie was not at fault.

If being pretty is a sin, then that would be her only sin.

[That outfit is really precious to me.

So my disappointment was even greater.

Even the Duke (that parent I mentioned earlier) told me that my face, reddened by champagne, matched well with my outfit and said I looked pretty.

Honestly, how ridiculous must I have looked with my face all red.

Yet there’s someone who speaks so prettily to avoid making me feel embarrassed, while on the other hand…….]

“Damn it……”

Even though it was a letter from Connie, he wanted to crumple the paper.

Duke, Duke Wayne!

That man was such a wicked human being!

To seduce innocent Connie with that calm face and gentle voice!

Wasn’t he the one who claimed to have the love of the century when he married his late wife?

What century, my foot.

It’s questionable whether he even mourned his dead wife for 100 days, let alone 100 years.

[I’m truly worried about this country. Controlling the country according to mood…… I mean, that parent holds an important position in the country.

If someone entrusted with such an important responsibility treats people according to his mood, wouldn’t he handle affairs the same way?

Would he collect more taxes when he’s in a bad mood and reduce taxes when he’s in a good mood? Goodness! (Oh, his job isn’t a tax collector.)]

I know he’s a prince.

And that prince’s mood is a complete mess right now, Connie.

To the point where I want to impose a massive tax specifically on Steen Elementary School staff.

To the point where I want to make them write resignation letters with both hands and feet raised, saying they can’t take it anymore because of the taxes, and leave that school!

[Since you said you would be my guardian, I hope you’ll accept my complaints about this parent as a sort of indulgence?

After experiencing so many things today, I wanted to confide in someone, and I’m so happy that you said you would be my guardian and that I could indulge as much as I want.]

I didn’t expect to hear complaints about myself as an indulgence.

[Oh! Have you ever seen an opera performance?

Actually, today I saw an opera performance for the first time in my life.

Although I couldn’t fully enjoy the performance due to various incidents, it was still a truly wonderful performance.

That strange parent even picked a fight with me, saying I came to see the opera performance with ‘just anyone,’ referring to the vice principal.

Is the vice principal just anyone?

No, he’s not. He’s a work colleague and actually my university classmate. In other words, a friend?]

What friend!

Actually, Ethan Schwab was a figure who concerned him less than the Duke or the Count.

He wasn’t much as a man either. And he didn’t have much personal charm.

But since Connie had an unrequited love for Ethan Schwab, Ryan hated this man the most.

He wasn’t sure if this man even deserved to receive Connie’s love.

What was really going on between those two?

Did they go to the opera house like that because they had agreed to date?

But there was no hint of that in the letter.

‘University classmate. In other words, a friend?’ There was no atmosphere that suggested she was describing a lover.

[The parent might not know if he’s a friend or a classmate, but even so! To say such rude things. I feel like anger is boiling inside me.

And honestly, he could know! Considering the situation when I first met that parent.

Ah! Thinking about that day, it makes me even more upset that he called him ‘just anyone.’

When he clearly…… remembered…….

So, author, the truth is that parent once caught me confessing my unrequited love to the vice principal. That was the first meeting with the first button wrongly fastened that I mentioned earlier.

(This is truly my dark history, so only you, the author, should know about it.)

So when he said I came to the opera house with ‘just anyone,’ could it have been mocking or belittling my unrequited love?]

What nonsense!

Ethan Schwab is indeed ‘just anyone,’ and you shouldn’t have such unrequited love.

Why are you even having unrequited love for someone?

But is it still unrequited love?

Due to his curiosity about whether she had agreed to date Ethan Schwab or not, the rest of Connie’s writing barely registered in his eyes.

Seriously! Did that damn unrequited love work out or not!

[The reason I’m even more angry at him is probably because of how disappointed I am?]

What exactly did I do to disappoint her so much?

[I mean the disappointment from having had a good impression of him at the sports day, thinking he was a good person, an impressive person.]

A good person, an impressive person?

Was I…… like that?

“Hmm!”

He cleared his throat as his lips threatened to curl upward instantly.

Is this what it feels like to go between heaven and hell?

[But thinking about it calmly, this isn’t something to be so angry about. He’s just a parent, a busy person doing important work for the country, not someone who has any significant meaning to me.

As I write this, I feel more clarity. It’s not worth getting angry about, and he’s not an important person—that’s the conclusion.]

Wrong! Why organize your thoughts like that?

[This is why I need someone to listen to me. After confiding everything to you, I feel so much calmer.

If you ever have difficult, angering, or sad experiences while writing or in your daily life, you can indulge yourself by writing to me too…….

I suddenly feel sorry for only receiving your kindness.

If you ever have any concerns, please ask me.

I’ll think hard and give you advice to the best of my ability.

Somehow, now that I think of you as being around my age, I dare to say such things.

Um…… for example, relationship advice?

I might not be of much help, but hearing various opinions is never a bad thing.

Perhaps we could find good conclusions by sharing opinions as women?

Oh, but are you already married?]

No, not yet.

Marriage…….

I hadn’t given it much thought, but I’ve started to want it a bit.

With you…….

[Now that I know your age and where you live, I’m becoming curious about more and more personal things.]

“Hmm……”

Would she still be curious about him if she knew he was a man, an unmarried twenty-five-year-old man?

[Um…… to help you feel more comfortable indulging, I’ll first share one of my personal secrets with you. Actually, it’s already appeared in what I wrote above.

The truth is, I had an unrequited love for the vice principal for over three years. This is really a secret. It started when I was in university, and I was really surprised when I happened to meet him again after becoming a teacher. But now it’s not the case anymore, so I feel a bit more at ease.

Oh, it’s not the case now, right? Yes, it won’t be. That’s what I believe! – From Connie Clarence, who is becoming more and more curious about you.]

“Ah……!”

It wasn’t the case. She hadn’t become lovers with Ethan Schwab.

Even though she said it wasn’t the case, he could still sense between the lines that she might have lingering feelings for Ethan Schwab.

But at least it was clear that they hadn’t agreed to date.

It seemed she had decided to move on.

So did she really go to the opera house just as friends?

[P.S. Come to think of it, I’m so fortunate that you’re around my age and the same gender as me. If I thought you were a man, I don’t think I could give you relationship advice. I’ve never even thought about romance, but you never know. I might suddenly meet someone I love like fate one day…….

Author, if that happens to me, will you give me relationship advice too? – From Connie Clarence, who suddenly started thinking about the possibility of romance.]

What is this now?

Connie had thrown another stone with her postscript.

To think she was considering the possibility of romance…….

Who exactly did she want to have a romance with?

Was it Ethan Schwab, for whom she still had lingering feelings? The widowed Duke? Or could it be…… the mad dog Count?

“Sigh……”

This state of having his mind in turmoil with thoughts about such men felt truly pathetic.

Is this what falling in love is like?

Feeling like an utter weakling, endlessly anxious, endlessly petty.

But even so…….

“I shouldn’t reveal that I’m a man just yet.”

Because he needed to dig into and discover Connie’s true feelings, even if it meant hearing things like ‘Sis Leoniee.’

He had no choice but to be messy. Considering his competitors, he would need to become far pettier and far dirtier than he was now.

Saying her face reddened by alcohol matched well with her green dress, saying she was pretty. Thinking of the Duke who tried to seduce Connie with such unconscionable words despite being a widower, or the mad dog who sent food and then framed her to ask her out for a meal, he was in no position to be picky in this dirty competition for Connie.

⁕⁕⁕

After breakfast, Andrew Brightling frowned deeply when he heard a visitor had arrived just as he was about to go horseback riding.

“Who is it?”

Who would come without notice first thing in the morning?

“A Mr. Sutherland, sir.”

“Who is that?”

“I don’t know much myself, but he says he has something to tell you about the Iron Building on Central Avenue.”

“The Iron Building on Central Avenue? Why should I meet this person?”

Central Avenue was the very heart of Barfal, where the main business district, department stores, and various shops were concentrated.

The Brightling family owned so many buildings there that he couldn’t even remember all of their properties.

However, the building at the very center of Central Avenue, nicknamed the “Iron Building” because it resembled an iron, was famous enough that everyone living in Barfal knew it, and Andrew certainly knew it too.

It wasn’t a family building, but one in his own name.

A building his father had given him before passing away. It was an asset he received because he had taken better care of Callian than his brother and sister-in-law.

With the intention that he, as an uncle, should look after Callian after his father passed away.

Even when Callian acted impudently, he endured it, remembering his father’s gift that was like his last will.

Not that he endured solely because of the Iron Building. It was also because seeing the boy always playing alone reminded him of himself when he was young, making him feel sorry for the child.

Anyway, not all of his numerous properties had meaning, but the “Iron Building” was the most prime building in Barfal, so he hadn’t felt bad about receiving it as a gift.

But that was it.

How many troublesome matters had arisen since receiving that gift.

The companies renting from the second floor up were relatively manageable. But the first floor was the problem. Being a commercial space right in the middle of Central Avenue, the best commercial district in Barfal, there were so many requests to let businesses move in.

It would be nice to rent it out once and forget about it, but the problem was that the rent was so expensive that most couldn’t endure for long.

However, with a line of business owners wanting to move in, there was no reason to keep a shop that was behind on rent.

As a result, due to the overwhelming demand, he had to hold a lottery every time, making it truly a troublesome golden egg.

At least since last year, instead of holding a lottery every time, they had drawn waiting numbers valid for two years, reducing the frequency of troublesome lotteries.

But look at this.

Another person who had lost the lottery was visiting first thing in the morning.

Why on earth had the butler brought this to him?

“He says he must meet you in person to make his request.”

“What request? Isn’t this just someone who couldn’t get a spot in the first-floor commercial space last time? Do I have to meet every such person?”

“He said it’s a very serious matter.”

“Haah….. Have him meet Wilson, why bring this to me!”

Wilson was in charge of overseeing all real estate-related accounting. The butler had never done this before, so he was irritated at being bothered with such a useless matter first thing in the morning.

“Well, young master, he said he heard something related to the homeroom teacher that he must convey to you. Since it involved you, I felt uncomfortable just sending him to Mr. Wilson.”

“What?”

If it was about the young master’s homeroom teacher, that would be Teacher Connie Clarence?

“He said there’s a serious rumor going around about the teacher. Since the teacher visited your home before, I thought I should tell you, Count, but if you don’t think you need to meet him, I’ll send him away right now……”

“Tell him to come in right now!”

A serious rumor?

Since he couldn’t possibly know what rumor it was, he had to meet this person first.

“Hello, Count Brightling.”

The unfamiliar man the butler brought in bowed at a 90-degree angle.

“I’m not doing well at all. Who are you, and why are you going around talking about Teacher Connie Clarence? A serious rumor? If you’re saying strange nonsense to me now to get a spot in the Iron Building, your mouth might not be safe before you even move in.”

He looked like the type who strutted around proudly because his gentry family had accumulated some money.

Why would someone like this be talking about Teacher Connie?

“I lost in the lottery for the first-floor shop space in the Iron Building a few months ago. That spot was taken by a Mr. Maison, who runs Maison Insurance.”

“And?”

He knew nothing about this. This was Wilson’s job.

“Mr. Maison gave that shop to his brother-in-law, Steve Sachsen, to open a café. Mr. Maison is a solid businessman, but since he started his business with his in-laws’ capital, he’s somewhat tied to his wife’s family. As a result, he keeps looking after his good-for-nothing brother-in-law.”

“Look, are you playing games with me? What exactly are you trying to say? You barge into someone else’s house first thing in the morning, and all you have to say is about Maison and Sachsen? Why should I be listening to other people’s family affairs?”

“Yes! I’ll explain quickly! This Sachsen, while frequenting gambling dens and clubs, has been talking about the your nephew Callian Brightling’s homeroom teacher.”

“What are you really saying!”

Andrew looked at the clock and jumped up from his seat.

This man seemed to have a habit of talking around the core issue.

“Ah! Yes! So! This Sachsen said he’s going to marry your nephew’s homeroom teacher, that he’s just waiting for the right time to find out if she’s a virgin, saying things like that, and also, also, I mean……”

“What? What?”

Did he hear something wrong?

His nephew’s homeroom teacher is Teacher Connie, but what is he going to do? Get married? Check if she’s a virgin? What?

“This Sachsen, you see. There’s a widespread rumor that his physical condition isn’t good because he frequents brothels so often. You know? That disease that men who sleep around tend to catch……”

“Hey! What nonsense are you spouting! What did Steve Sachsen say? That he’s going to marry Connie Clarence? What, that he’s going to sleep with her to check if she’s a virgin? A son of a bitch with an STD?”

“……”

The man’s eyes widened like saucers at Andrew’s cursing. His body was slowly moving away from Andrew.

“Hey! I won’t hit you, so speak clearly again.”

“Yes, he said his niece’s name is ‘Natalie,’ and she’s in the same class as your nephew. Natalie’s mother, Mrs. Maison, said she would arrange a marriage between the teacher and her brother.”

“Oh, fuck! Are they crazy!”

One hand was already raised high above his head.

Someone who spreads such filthy talk deserves to be hit.

“What? No, not me! It’s not me!”

The man curled up, covering his head with both arms.

“If not you, then who! Sachsen? What kind of bastard is he!”

“He’s…… the maternal uncle of a child named Natalie Maison. I just received an anonymous letter and came to deliver it to you. I was second in line for the lottery…… so I thought if I delivered this, I might, might…… might be able to move in.”

“This is really! Who sent such a thing!”

“I don’t know, but they said you would know if I mentioned Natalie Maison……”

“Natalie Maison? That’s……!”

He remembered.

The face of an incredibly annoying, ignorant girl who never let anything slide and questioned everything one by one, an ugly, fat girl!

She was a girl who made him extremely angry during the parent participation class, and now her mother, who looked like a pig, was trying to push her brother onto Teacher Connie?

Haah, fuck, have they completely lost their minds!

“Who, you, hoo…… who sent you such a letter!”

“I don’t know. They just said you would know if I mentioned Natalie Maison. And…… um…… there was one caution written as well.”

“Caution?”

“Yes! It said to be careful not to kill him, as it would trouble the homeroom teacher…… I don’t know what ‘kill’ means here, but it said I must convey everything, so I am.”

Andrew momentarily frowned at the caution that seemed to read his mind.

Because he had just been thinking about killing this Sachsen person immediately.

But who was it? Who exactly delivered such a story to me in such a clever way?

Someone who knows that his nephew Callian is a student in Teacher Connie’s class, who knows that he would recognize ‘Natalie Maison,’ and who even knows that the building where Sachsen moved in is owned by him.

Who could it be?

“Did you bring that anonymous letter?”

“Yes!”

The man pulled out a letter from his breast pocket and held it out.

On white paper was messy handwriting that looked like it could have been written by an elementary school student.

He could try handwriting analysis, but since he couldn’t narrow down the range of people to compare it with, it would be difficult to find the sender.

Skimming through it, everything this man said was indeed written in the letter.

[Caution – If killed, the female homeroom teacher will be troubled more than anyone else. If you have even minimal common sense, don’t forget this!]

“If you have even minimal common sense?”

This bastard, does he know me?

It was clearly sent by someone who knew him quite well.

Someone who knew he would get angry enough to destroy this Sachsen guy.

Someone who predicted that he would be so angry he couldn’t help but play along, even though he didn’t want to dance to the sender’s tune.

Someone who knew he viewed Teacher Connie as a woman.

Who the hell is this guy!

“Hoo……”

He exhaled deeply.

Which one should he catch first?

The sender of this anonymous letter trying to use him?

Or the trash who dared speak about Teacher Connie with his filthy mouth?

“Hoo…… About this Steve Sachsen guy, where is he now?”

He made up his mind. He would deal with the STD-infected good-for-nothing bastard first.

He would play along with whoever sent the letter.

He decided to play along first, then catch the person who sent the letter afterward.

The trash made him even more furious.

Fuck.

This bastard would have predicted that he would make this decision.

Even though he decided to play along, curses still escaped his lips.

“By now, he should be heading home to sleep after losing money all night at a club. He’s quite well-known. He’s often seen wandering Central Avenue reeking of alcohol in the morning.”

“You said Natalie Maison? Maison Insurance?”

No matter how much he’s controlled by his in-laws, shouldn’t he know what his wife is doing?

“Yes! The insurance company is also on Central Avenue. But, um…… what are you planning to do about that commercial space……”

“Ah! You, what did you say your name was?”

“Sutherland.”

“Right, Mr. Sutherland. The shop will be vacated within a week. I won’t charge rent until next month, so you can move in anytime and start paying rent from the month after that. There’s a building manager named Wilson, make sure to sign a contract with him.”

“Yes! Thank you!”

“And you!”

“Yes!”

“About that nonsensical talk you brought to me today about my nephew’s homeroom teacher, if you go around spreading such talk elsewhere, you’ll have to move out of the shop that very day. Understand?”

“Yes! How could I not! I do have some sense.”

“Good, then you can go. As long as you heed my warning and pay your rent on time, you can stay in that spot for a long time.”

“Yes!”

After watching Sutherland bow several times as he left, Andrew called for his butler.

“There’s an errand guild in Barfal, right?”

“Yes!”

“Call the guild master here, and find out where Maison Insurance is located.”

“Yes!”

He didn’t even want to see the face of this Sachsen person.

Because if he saw him, he might beat him to death, which would be troublesome.